Music’s second cousin to play in international friendly at Busch Stadium

Vedad Ibišević (left) and his Bosnia-Herzegovina team will challenge three-time European Golden Boot winner Lionel Messi (right) and Argentina at Busch Stadium on Nov. 18. GRAPHIC BY VICTORIA COURTNEY

Dino Music, freshman on the Webster University men’ soccer team, plans to see his second cousin Vedad Ibišević, and the Bosnia-Herzegovina men’s national team play in Busch Stadium on Nov. 18. Ibišević is a striker for Bosnia-Herzegovina and they will play Argentina in an international friendly.

Ibišević played collegiate soccer at Saint Louis University, after four years on the Roosevelt High School squad in St. Louis.

“Now that he’s up there, (he) provided some confidence that I can do that one day, I guess you can say he is one of my role models,” Music said.

If Bosnia does not qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup they will be replaced by another international team to play Argentina.

Music didn’t know who Ibišević was until his father, Hajrudin Music told him that Ibišević made the national team, and is his second cousin. Dino Music hopes to follow Ibišević and make the Bosnian national team.

“I’m hoping. I’m dreaming. I’m trying. It would be amazing. I couldn’t even explain what it would be like playing for your country,” Music said.

Hajrudin Music was 16 when he played with Ibišević before Ibišević made the national team. Dino Music translated for his father who said playing with Ibiševic was a heart-warming, and once in a lifetime experience.

“It’s a good feeling watching a guy who’s related to us, and who I played with when I was younger,” Hajrudin Music said.

Hajrudin Music said the Bosnian community has always been close. He said in Bosnia people would gather after work and play soccer. The tradition has continued in the Bosnian community in St. Louis.

“He was a friendly guy to everyone. He didn’t like losing. He lived a sport like lifestyle,” Hajrudin Music said.

The international friendly between Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina will be the second soccer game to be played in Busch Stadium this year. English Premiere League teams Chelsea and Manchester City competed in a friendly on May 23.

Learning from the pros

Sophomores on the Webster women’s soccer team Jessica and Ashley Mess attended the match and City defeated Chelsea 4-3. City came back from a 3-0 deficit. Jessica Mess said that game taught her to never give up.

The Mess sisters also attended the friendly game between Real Madrid and AC Milan at the Edward Jones Dome.

Jessica Mess said she was inspired to improve her game when she watched Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo in action. He scored a goal in rout to a 3-0 victory for Madrid.

“I kind of want to work on a free kick, to kick it like him,” Jessica Mess said.

Ashley Mess said the matches taught her to move off the ball.

“You have to make those runs and help out your teammates,” Ashley Mess said. “Even if you don’t get the ball, you still have to be part of the play.”

Webster junior forward Tyler Brown said one thing he took away from both matches, is where players are positioned when they don’t have possession of the ball.

Webster goalkeeper Brian Woodard said the team is looking to attend the match together. Ashley Mess said she likes the idea of the team going to watch professionals play soccer.

“I think it would be a great experience for all of us,” Ashley Mess said. “Not only for a bonding thing, but you can learn something from watching all the top players playing against each other.”

Brown said the game would be great for team bonding. But he is worried the game won’t be affordable for the entire team. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and get some nosebleed seats,” Brown said.